The passenger who jumped overboard while cruising on Norwegian Epic over Christmas has been identified.
Dan McGilvray, 51, of Broomfield, Colorado, vanished after climbing over a balcony and leaping off the ship, bouncing off a lifeboat as he plummeted toward the sea.
His 75-year-old mother Gerda McGilvray witnessed the tragic event and tried to restrain her son. However, she was unable to stop him. The family was sailing on NCL Epic's 7-night Christmas cruise to Great Stirrup Cay; Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. McGilvray jumped overboard en route to the Bahamas from Jamaica.
Read more: Man falls overboard from cruise ship the day after Christmas
Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched. A flare was tossed into the ocean to mark the ship's location, and a nearby ship, Holland America Line's Zuiderdam, aided in the search.
“They put a flare. They’re circulating. They did an entire circle, looking for the guy that jumped off the boat. He jumped, he fell and bounced off one of these [lifeboats] and fell into the water. Everyone is searching for him,” stated Claire Georgatos in a video on X.
Unfortunately, McGilvray was not found. “After an extensive search that was unfortunately unsuccessful, the ship was released by the authorities to continue its voyage,” said Norwegian Cruise Line.
Police investigators in the Bahamas suspect that McGilvray may have experienced an adverse reaction to medication he was taking for seizures, Daily Mail reported.
Other sources say the "distressed" father of four woke up around 3pm on December 26 screaming, "I can't take it anymore." Security footage confirms the family's description of the incident. There's no suggestion of foul play in McGilvray's death.
"Preliminary reports indicate that sometime around 3pm the victim became distressed and despite attempts to restrain him, he jumped from a balcony into the sea," said the police.
A GoFundMe campaign was created to support his wife and children. "We are devastated to let you know that Dan McGilvray has unexpectedly passed away at the age of 51. His wife, Heather, and four sons need their friends' support in many areas right now," reads the campaign.
"As you also know, Dan was the primary provider for their family and the next year will be incredibly difficult for Heather to support her boys and learn to live without Dan."
McGilvray is remembered as "brilliant, honest, hardworking, [and] funny" and "[was] devoted to his family and friends." Over $29,000 has been raised for the grieving family.
McGilvray worked as a financial advisor for Beacon Pointe in Colorado and had held other various finance positions throughout his career, including serving as the financial manager for the Air Force Space and Missile Center, a role in which he earned an Air Force Commendation. Additionally, he served as the Director of Investment Management for Highland Private Wealth Management in Bellevue, Washington.
He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where he studied Business Administration. McGilvray continued his studies at Indiana University, earning his MBA in Finance. He also recently graduated from Schwab's Executive Leadership Program.
Outside of work, McGilvray served on the committee of the non-profit Cross Purpose, volunteered at his children's schools, loved traveling, and had a knack for tennis and golf.
Norwegian Epic is the only ship of its kind
Norwegian Epic measures 155,873 gross registered tons and can accommodate 4,100 passengers. The singular Epic Class ship was built in 2010 and received a major refurbishment in 2020, including an updated suite-only area.
Onboard, guests will find water slides, a miniature golf course, a casino, a rock climbing wall, multiple pools, a dueling piano bar, original production shows, and more. Whether you're embarking on a short Caribbean getaway or a lengthy transatlantic cruise, there's plenty to fill your days on Norwegian Epic.
Currently, NCL Epic offers cruises to the Caribbean, Greek Isles, and the Mediterranean.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
